October 07, 2010

(Update: Please readDownload Android Apps from other markets in 8 Steps if this method does not work for you)
While surfing the internet you may have seen some great apps for Android, but when you try to access them by searching Android Market or by scanning their barcode all you get is ‘The requested item could not be found’, and you feel so marginalized! Because the app you want to download is available on Android Market only in some limited countries. This post talks about how you can download apps that are not available for your country and how to download apps that are not available for your Android OS version.
Please note that using the method described here you may get to download and install the apps but they may or may not work depending upon your phone model. Using this method I successfully installed and used Angry Birds (not available for Android 2.1), Nook, Napster, and Survivor Nicaragua (all of these are not available outside US) on my Android 2.1. So without further ado I bring to you the actual method for achieving this.
STEP ONE: visit http://www.appbrain.com/ and use your Google ID and username to sign in with Appbrain.
STEP TWO: Go to Android Market and Download and install ‘Appbrain App Market’ and ‘Fast Web Installer’.

STEP THREE: After installation of Appbrain open it up and sign in with your credentials. Go to "Manage my apps" and click the "Sync with AppBrain" button.
STEP FOUR: Now open Fast Installer from your programs. It will give you some information about the app with a Continue button at Bottom. Hit the Continue button; accept the Access Request by clicking Allow button and wait for 30sec or so. This will update your phone to accept applications directly from Appbrain.
STEP 5: Now visit http://www.appbrain.com/ Find the app you want to install, and click the big blue "Install" button on any app page and the download should immediately start on your phone.
It’s so easy and fun; I almost stopped using Android Market on my device and now prefer this method to install all the apps I want.
This method also works if you have an Android 2.1 or earlier version device and want to install apps that are not available for your version. For example Angry Birds (Beta) is only available for Froyo, I installed it using the above method on my Android 2.1 device and it worked fine. But when I tried some other apps like updated Gmail app it didn’t (because some might require additional settings which are not available on earlier operating system versions).
So here is the list of apps that installed fine on my Android 2.1 in India and worked as described on there App page: